Good for Bernie Sanders!

[WI_DEM]

I’m struggling with this. As of this point, I’m not voting for the bill. … I’m going to do my best to make this bill a better bill, a bill that I can vote for, but I’ve indicated both to the White House and the Democratic leadership that my vote is not secure at this point. And here is the reason. When the public option was withdrawn, because of Lieberman’s action, what I worry about is how do you control escalating health care costs?

http://trueslant.com/erikkain/2009/12/17/bernie-sanders-to-vote-against-senate-healthcare-bill/

The question is will he fillibuster or allow a final vote? Unlike Lieberman he might actually allow a vote.

[johnlal]

1. However you count it, that's less than 60 votes.

Will Obama wine and dine Sanders the way he did Lieberman and Snowe?
Could Feingold follow suit?

Interesting.

[wryter2000]

2. He doesn't have to filibuster

He only has to not vote at all.

1) Is Senator Kennedy's replacement seated yet? If not, they don't have 60 votes.

2) Is Senator Byrd well enough to be in the Senate? If not, that's down to 58 votes.

3) If one or two of our folks (Feingold, Burris, Sanders?) simply vote, that's down to 55.

I'm going to fax Boxer and ask her to abstain. (I don't think I'll bother with Feinstein.) I think I'll get on Hartmann's blog and ask him to ask Sanders to abstain.

[bbgrunt]

3. I expect some repukes will put it over 60 just to be able

to pin this disaster on dems in 2010 and 2012.